Sadly, No Tatting

The weather is ridiculous in Minnesota this winter!  I should have lots of time to tat since we are not spending time outside, but I'm on a little break and doing some major home organization as well as hitting the gym 3-4 times a week.  On top of working all day.  I just don't feel like doing much of anything by the time I can sit down and concentrate!  (I am, however, eyeing up that new Lizbeth Twirlz thread . . . )

In any case, it's SO cold here that schools are closed for the third time this month.  Due to extremely cold wind chills.  We have a wind chill advisory in effect until tomorrow . . . it's about -30+ degrees Fahrenheit out there.  And we are supposed to get this again next week.  With +30 temps in between, mind you.  Nothing like a 60 degree or more fluctuation over just a few days.  

I think it's so cold my phone can't compute the weather!

2014 Begins!

2014 is off to a good start with projects!  Though not tatting or sewing, I did manage to get a room painted - much to my own delight.  I have hated the colors of this room since we moved here 8+ years ago, but we chose to do all other living areas and bedrooms first.

 

This room was painted blue and gold - not my colors, but I guess if one has bolder taste . . . It was good for them.  There was a wallpaper border at the top of the blue wainscoting too, but in my haste to remove it I forgot a photo.  I could not WAIT to cover that blue, but started with the gold walls.  Textured gold walls. 

Here's a close up of the colors that have nearly driven me mad:

Yuck.  Why would anyone . . . ? 

Getting there . . .

This is more to my liking:

A few finishing touches are still needed to put back a little color, but this more boring color scheme is much more soothing to me :)  But shoot me if I ever think painting this wainscoting again is a good idea.  There are so many crevices to cover!

And while I was at it, I re-painted these little antique sewing drawers into a piece I want to use for jewelry.

 

I wasn't crazy about the whitewashing job that was done on them when I purchased them, so I thought I'd paint them while I had all the painting stuff out.

  

And then when I saw all the drips and thick paint, I decided to distress them a bit.  To cover up the new flaws I created.

LOL.  Nothing like painting and then sanding it off again!  But I think it looks better.  Now I will just add some felt to the inside bottoms of the drawers and I can use it.  

So.  That's how I spent the first week of 2014.  I hope the rest of the year is this productive!

It's Ending

It's all coming to an end for another year.

Isn't it funny how so many memories surface when pulling out the decorations or baking the favorites? Many conversations begin with "We always used to . . . " or "Grandma always made . . . " or "Remember that time . . . "

And once again, too many goodies have been consumed! (Is there really such a thing as too many?)

Unfortunately, the weather will be sticking around for awhile!  Nothing like going from a record high temperature to dangerously cold stuff, but that's how we roll here.  One must either get out and enjoy winter sports like skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling or ice fishing - OR - curl up and read a good book or take up some crafty needlework or tatting.  (I much prefer the latter at this point in my life, but I have many memories of beautiful snow-covered woods on cross-country skis or snowmobiles!)

Tatted snowflakes are appropriate in this weather - and the only tatting I've accomplished in December.  I made these for Mom using size 70 thread and beads that were a little too big, but I think they turned out pretty anyway.  I love this pattern by Elizabeth Zipay. https://www.etsy.com/listing/61756672/original-tatting-pattern-tiny-tatted

I'm still trying to master using Blogger on an iPad, so I'm never quite sure how my posts will look when I hit that button.  And posts are a bit scarce too, since exasperation occurs before I can finish most of the time!

In any case, it's time to pack up the new memories, put Christmas away for another year, and get on with a refreshed outlook for the next chapter of life's book!

Peace and Joy (and warmth!) to you, wherever you are.

Did You Vote?

Even though I haven't gotten much blogging OR tatting done lately, I DID get a couple of things entered in the Tatting Corner Show and Tell Contest.  I could really use more thread, patterns and shuttles, couldn't you?  Hope you entered something, and If you haven't voted, go vote!  There are many beautiful entries.    Vote here:  http://tattingcorner.com/snt2013/index.php

I was also saddened to see the loss of Jan Stawasz.  His patterns are such a wonderful contribution to the tatting world.  I'm glad I have his latest book!

Just spent a fun week with Mom while the men were deer hunting - we did our usual shopping, eating out and shopping some more.  By the time we sat down long enough to do any handwork, we were too tired to do it!  A fun week in any case, but now it's back to work, Christmas decorating, and lefse making!  I can't believe it's December already

And, it snowed today.  Slippery-heavy-awful-to-drive-in stuff. Slid right past my street on the way home from work and had to go around the block, all while hearing sirens on their way to an accident nearby.  No shopping or trip to the gym tonite, no sir.  Not leaving the house again.  

I should probably tat or something  ;)

 

Not what I saw in my head . . .

I loved the Cranberry Bush Lizbeth thread - beautiful Christmas colors!

I loved the photo on Pinterest of this pretty edging to try.

I can make a pretty ornament, I said.

OK, so it's not as pretty as what I saw in my head.  Dang it.

It seemed like a ring at the top with 16 rings would be way too squished, so I made half.  I thought it would be easy to figure it out, but easy = boring ?  

Must. Try. Again.